Siemens Energy delivers a grid‑forming STATCOM to Amprion in Rheinau, boosting stability and securing reliable, sustainable power for the Rhine‑Neckar region.
Germany’s energy transition reduces conventional plants, challenging grid stability. Siemens Energy delivered a turnkey through partner Amprion: STATCOM with grid-forming and harmonic filtering in Rheinau. It ensures fast, flexible voltage support, boosts reliability, and secures sustainable power for the Rhine-Neckar region.
Successful STATCOM Rheinau project story
Germany’s energy transition is reshaping the power landscape. As large fossil and nuclear plants gradually disappear, so do the conventional sources of reactive power that once kept the grid voltage stable. What had long been taken for granted suddenly became a pressing issue: without these traditional power stations, the grid loses an important buffer to balance fluctuations.
For transmission operator Amprion, this marked a turning point. With renewable energy growing rapidly and short‑circuit capacity steadily declining, the familiar stability of the past was no longer guaranteed. The challenge was clear and complex: how to secure reliable system stability and robust voltage support in a grid undergoing profound transformation.
From the start, the project was designed for speed and reliability. Prefabricated modules allowed for efficient on‑site installation with minimal disruption, while intelligent remote control, monitoring, and diagnostic functions ensure consistently high availability throughout its lifecycle. The fully indoor design, complemented by photovoltaic support, underscores Amprion’s commitment to sustainability and future‑ready grid infrastructure.
To meet Amprion’s stability needs, Siemens Energy delivered a turnkey solution centered around STATCOM Rheinau — one of the most powerful STATCOM installations worldwide. Built on our proven SVC PLUS® technology, the system brings together grid‑forming capabilities, advanced harmonic filtering, and highly flexible converter operation.
From the start, the project was designed for speed and reliability. Prefabricated modules allowed for efficient on‑site installation with minimal disruption, while intelligent remote control, monitoring, and diagnostic functions ensure consistently high availability throughout its lifecycle. The fully indoor design, complemented by photovoltaic support, underscores Amprion’s commitment to sustainability and future‑ready grid infrastructure.
The Rheinau STATCOM brings stability exactly where the energy transition puts pressure on the grid. With its extremely fast and fully automatic response to voltage fluctuations, even under low short‑circuit conditions, it acts as a reliable anchor in an increasingly dynamic system. Its grid‑forming control not only enhances overall system reliability but also creates the stable foundation needed to seamlessly integrate high shares of renewable energy.
For the Rhine‑Neckar region, this means a secure and dependable power supply, even as the grid becomes more decentralized and dependent on weather conditions. Advanced harmonic filtering ensures consistently high power quality, while the modular, efficient system design helps reduce operational and lifecycle costs. Ultimately, Rheinau does more than solving today’s challenges: it strengthens long‑term grid resilience and supports Germany’s sustainable energy growth for the decades ahead.